Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-09
WHOLE NUM- BER, H,ll'
THE GRAND JURY.
FOUR NEW INDICTMENTS AGAINST
WILLIAM L. R0YALL PoR
BARRATRY.
Argument By Counsel Upon the Demurrer
TO the Plea to Indictments
Already Pound.

Already Found.
Pursuant 10 adjournment the Hus-
tings Court grand jury met at IL o'clock
yesterday morning. Soon after reas.
sombliDg they asked the Courts per
mission TO have talk with Mr. Wynd-
ham II. Meredith, the States counsel
in coupon cases. This request WAS
granted and they retired 60 their room,
where they remained for about fifteen
minutes. When they returned to the
courtroom Judge Atkins asked :
"Gentlemen, are you ready TO trans
act any business ?"
Mr.. Timberlake, the foreman, replied
that the jury would like to have the
Courts written instructions as to how
to proceed. The Court replied that
they needed no written Instructions;
that he would again read them the law
upon barratry and champerty if they
wished TO hear it; that the law should
be their guide; and that if, by the ex-
animation of witnesses, they found any
one 10 be guilty, it was the duty of the
jury TO bring in true bill Of indict-
| mont.
The jurymen thereupon returned to
their room.
PEEP INTO THE JURY-ROoM.
The jury room is next TO the Hastings
| CONT clerks office. Over the door is
a small tin slip, on which the words
" CITY Sergeant" can be read through
the obscurity of dirt and rust All the
morning the door was uncomfortably
| surrounded with impatient Witnesses
witnesses, some sixty of whom had
been subpGnaed from all parts Of the
State to appear before the grand jury.
Some had expected to be examined
day before yesterday, and their rail
road tickets were limited, and their
board accounts were running up, and
they wanted to 20 home As they
could not, they grumbled and quar-
relied, and one or two sent notes into
the jurymen asking that their turns for
examination might be next.
When witness was called he was
admitted into the room, where the
grand jury were seated around a table.
The witness was then put through a
cotechising as to whether he had paid
his taxes in coupons, and if so the cir
cumstances, &c, &c Mr.. Wyndham
r.. Meredith, on behalf of the Com
monwealth, applied the questions.
FIND TRUE BILLS AGAINST Mr.. RoYAL1.
Finally, at five minutes past .
O'Clock, the jury intimatcd that they
were ready TO return TO the courtroom.
The Judge accordingly mounted the |
bench, Commonwealth s-AttOney Witt |
took his seat, and the spectators who |
had been lounging around looked up. |
The Jurymcn filed slowly in and took |
Their seats, and the foreman handed the
clerk four indictments for barratfy |
against William l.. Royal.
The jury was then discharged for the
term, and the court took "A recess until
4 o'clock, which time was set to hear
by counsel upon the demur-
rcr to the plea which Mr. Royal has
fled to the indictments previously
brought III against him for barratry.
WITNESSES AGAINST ROYALL.
One Of the indictments charges that
NDiiam J.. Royal, within twelve
months last past, being during the
Whole twelve months licensed to prac-
ice law in the State, unlawfullv did.
~ verbal representation, and writing
nd printing, solicit, procure, and in
luce, and did become a party to so
letting, procuring, and inducing suit
o be brought against $. r. Smith,
horton Maryc, Frank c. Rutfin, A.
4. Rarman, H. w. Flournoy, and Il.
!. Ayers, citizens of the State of Vir-
inia, 10y W. IL. Eggbom.
The other three are similar, only the {
rst name before Morton Marye being
ititrent.
IncrBoOn Session-Mr. Meredith
Opens the Argument.
When the court met at o'clock
here was a large number of specta-
)rs-mostly lawyers and city officials
D the room. The argument was
pened by Mr.. Wyndham II. Mere
Ith. He began by saying that the
myth of Mr. Royals plea made it
iflicult TO distinguish what were the
rounds urged III the defence. 1t was >
nquestionably faulty, not only in sub
ance and matter, but in form; that i'll ,
ne first place, the plea was oblectiona-
le on account OF It's being double d
lea. !
II pleaded first the unconsttutiOn- n
ity Of the law, and, admitting that h
ne law was constitutional, it pleaded y
cts claimed to be n complete defence s
, the prose cution. "
1t is true our statute allows q defend Il
lt to plead several matters of de- G.
nee, but they must not be contained \
one plea. II
Again, on more technical grounds, J,
.e plea is faulty. 1t states matters of ~
W of which the court takes notice &C.
fci0, and such matter contained III !,
e plea will merely confuse the jury a
Again, the plea is argumentatiye; in :,
ed, it was called plea while it was a
)tking but an argument. 81
But finally the court must reject it nj
lder the rule governing pleading from Il
e commencement of English jurispru y
nee. 1t was plea which amounted ci
a general issue, and under our prac- al
.e the special plea must be rejected X
ID the defendant requested to go to 10
ial on the general issue. IL
CITATION OF AUTHORITIES
In support of these points Mr.. Mere n
tn cited numerous authorities, but it u
rs on the second and last leading dt
int that he rested his case. IA
He said that the plea was really an IS
tempt to show authority to do the III
Is charged in the indictment by rea- st St
n of defendant being counsel for the co
lglish bondhollers. q
Mr.. Meredith said that if the coupons OF